Radiation comparison systems



Aug. 25, 1959 v L CQATES ET AL 2,900,866

RADIATION COMPARISON SYSTEMS Filed June 14, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 v5/eva l AAM/Hee Dimm/17 F G. MAW/fe B56019052 l l (C) awww/Ms' FUND. f 4N@ Z/ FUND. PQI@ Z OUTPUT 0F (e) 60A/MG DEMUL/ITO/Q 34 Aug- 25, 1959` v. J. cOATEs ET AL 2,900,866

RADIATION COMPARISON SYSTEMS Filed June 14, 1954 ZSheetS-Sheet 2 N k. m f N j N s N *s x 'q k l n n QJ O Q o T f T u Q N Lu v 5 w w: 'm Q5 m d. s LL V A F33 o United States Patent O RADIATION COMPARISON SYSTEMS Vincent J. Coates, South Norwalk, and Larkin B. Scott, New Canaan, Conn., assignors to The Perkin-Elmer Corporation, Norwalk, Conn., a corporation of New York Application June 14, 1954, Serial No. 436,388 5 Claims. (Cl. 88-14) This invention relates to radiation comparison systems of the type in which at least one of a pair of beams from a source is modified by the characteristics representative of an unknown substance and narrow wavelength bands taken from the respective beams are then caused to fall alternately `upon a detector, so that the resultant signals produced by the detector can be compared to furnish information as to the unknown. More particularly, the invention is concerned with a novel comparison system, which includes means preventing undesirable or unwanted radiation falling upon the detector from introducing errors in the comparison of the two signals, such unwanted radiation being stray or false radiation from outside the system, radiation of inadequate spectral purity, etc. The new system provides the detector with radiation of high resolution and functions with greater accuracy and at a better signal-to-noise ratio than prior similar systems. While the new system may be employed in various applications, a form of the system for use in infrared absorption spectrometry is typi Vcal and will, accordingly, be illustrated and described for purposes of explanation.

Double beam infrared spectrophotometers commonly include a source of radiation, a dispersing system or monochromator, which spreads out into a spectrum radiation falling thereon and provides a selected narrow wavelength band of such radiation, a device acting to separate the radiation into two distinct beams, one representing the unknown or sample and the other the standard or reference, and a detector and amplification system, which measures the intensity of the radiation in the respective `beams and produces a signal representing the ratio of the intensities, their sum, or the difference between them.

`The performance of such instruments is judged primarily by the narrowness of the wavelength band falling upon the detector and by the absence of stray or false radiation of undesirable wavelengths from this band. Varii i `ous eXpedients have been employed to eliminate errors arising from the unwanted radiation referred to and a modified single beam monochromator, which has improved dispersive power and minimizes stray or false radiation, is disclosed in the patent to Walsh, 2,652,742,

Vissued September 22, 1953.

"mator for a second dispersion. Two wavelength bands then appear at the exit slit, one being tirst pass radiation, which has undergone a single dispersion, and the second being second pass radiation, which has been intercepted by the optical system and returned for a second dispersion. `In order that `second pass radiation can be distinguished from rst pass radiation, the Walsh device includes a chopper disposed at such a position in relaa source of radiation S,r from which 4taining a sample of the unknown substance and is directed by a plane mirror 22 19. With this arrangement, the disc 2i), which y 2,900,866' Patented Aug. 25, 1959 rice vof the detector signal. In this way, the instrument discriminates between first and second pass radiation.

The Walsh `system provides a narrow wavelength band of radiation of great purity, but is not applicable to most double beam spectrophotometers, in which a switching element or shutter is employed to cause the beams t0 pass alternately. With such a shutter, the system is essentially of the A.C. type and, if the Walsh monochromatoi `were utilized, the first pass radiation would contribute to the A.C. detector signal and thus impair the accuracy of the instrument. Moreover a shutter or chopper ernployed to chop the second pass radiation is in itself a `source of infrared radiation and produces an A.C. signal superimposed on the second pass radiation thus introducing zero errors.

The present invention is directed to the provision of a novel radiation comparison system, which makes possible the accurate and rapid comparison of two or more beams of radiation in the presence of unwanted spurious radiation. In the new system, signals produced by such unwanted radiation are not measured with those produced by the wanted radiation and, as a result, the unwanted radiation does not reduce the accuracy of the system.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference may be made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a diagrammatic view of a double beam, double pass spectrophotometer embodying the system of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a set of graphs explanatory of the operation of the components of the new system;

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view of part of the instrument Fig. l with two synchronous rectifiers in use; and Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view of a modied form of the system of the invention.

The spectrophotometer illustrated in Fig. l comprises radiation travels to spherical mirrors 10 and 11 to be reilected thereby upon respective spherical mirrors 12 and 13. The mirror 12 produces a reference beam RB, which passes through a cell 14 which may be evacuated to constitute a nonabsorbing reference and is then directed by plane mirrors '15, 16 to a spherical mirror 17. From mirror 17, the beam travels to plane mirror 18 and is directed thereby upon an entrance slit 19. A chopping disc 20 lies in the path of the radiation between mirrors 16 and 17 and the disc is of the semi-circular type and is so disposed that, during one-half of each revolution, it cuts oli the radiation between the two mirrors 16 and 17 and, in the allier half of the revolution, it passes the radiation.

The mirror 13 forms the radiation falling thereon into a sample beam SB, which passes through a cell 21 conthen toward the chopping disc 20 driven by a motor 20a. The face of the disc opposed to the sample beam is reflect-ing and, during the halt of its revolution when disc 2t) Yror 16 to mirror 17, the radiation from mirror 22 is conis passing radiation from mirtinuing along its course past the disc. When disc 2t) is cutting oi the radiation from mirror 16 to mirror 17, the radiation from mirror 22 falls upon the `face of the disc and `is reflected thereby to mirror 17, whence it travels to mirror 18 and is directed upon the entrance slit may be referred to as a switching shutter, interrupts the radiation .tion of unbalance.

'3 travelingfromthe source to the detector, so that the referie'nce" and sample' beams fall alternation" upon" the entrance slit. l Radiation passing: tlnough,l the entrance slit -19 `falls upon' a paraboloidal mirrorZS, which collimates theradiati'on and dirctsitto the dispersiiig' element `24', such asa prism` or a grating'.l The dispersed' radiation issuing from the'illust'rated prism falls upon a Littrow mirror 25 and is reflected thereby to the dispersiiig element and returned therethrough. The dispersed radiation leaving the dispersing 'element falls upon 4the mirror-23 and'isdirected thereby to a plane mirrorV 26, whence the radiation travels to' a diagonal mirrorl 27. From mirror 27,the radiation passes to a second'diagonal mirror ZSa'ndreturns' by way ofmirrors 26 a'n'dZS` to the dispersing element for a second dispersion. Radiationis'suingfrom the"disp`ersing element passes againto the Littrow mirror, then back through the prism to mirror 23,' by which itis focused, so that, after being turned by`plane mirror 29, it falls upon'l the exit slit 30.' The beam issuing from the exit slit is turned by plane mirror 3i andtr-avels to a radiation detector indicatedat 32 which produces a signal commensurate withl the instantaneous intensity of the radiation impinging thereon.

The output of the detectorniay be utilized in various ways and, in the system shown, the detector output passes'y to an amplifier 33 andthe amplifiedk signal4 is then fed to aV demodulator 34 which may be, for instance, a bi-directional gated diode bridge operated in synchronism with the switching :shutter 20 lbut at twice the frequency thereof. The demodulated signal goes'toa servo-amplifier 35, the output of which. isesupplied to a servomotor 3'6. The servornotor operates an attenuator 37 in the referenceV beam by moving the attenuator in and ou-t of the beam to vary the intensity of the beam and thus bring the referenceA and `sample beams into balance. The attenuator is'connected` to the moving element of a recorder 38 and the record made by the recorder represents the movementof the attenuator required to bring the system to ya null condition with the beams inbalance. Such attenuator movement is a function of the difference between theintensities of the reference and sample beams.

It will be observed that, in the monochromator of the instrument, mirrors 27, 2S cause radiation falling thereon to return for a second passage back and forth through the prism and the radiation passing. from mirror 27 to mirror 28 thus'ultiinately issues from the exit slit as second pass radiation. At the same time, someamount'of first pass radiation, that is, radiation'which has traveled only once back and forth through the prism but issues through the exit slit, and the first pass and second pass radiation passing through the exit slit are of different wavelengths. The second pass radiation is of approximately twice the 'dispersion of the rst pass radiation and thus has an increased resolution for the samesignal-tonoise ratio. The second pass radiation is therefore that which is desired, while the first pass radiation is unwanted. In order to discriminatebetween the two radiations, a chopping disc 39 rotated by a motor 39a is so disposed as to periodically interrupt the radiation passing from mirror 27 to mirror 28. The disc 39 may be referred to as a coding shutter and it is operated at the same frequency `as the switching shutter, but with a phase difference of 90.

The graphs of Fig. 2 illustrate the mode of operation Vof the components of the new system and, in the graphs,

the beams are shown, for purposes of clarity, in'a condi- It is to be understood, however, that, in the instrument of the null type described, the beams are maintained by the attenuator at a condition ofequal intensity.

pass radiation. The zero line on the graph indicates absence of radiation and, by their height above the zero "accuses line, the parts of the graph marked I0 indicate the intensity of' the'radiation'in thereference beam, andthe-parts marked I indicate the intensity of the radiation in the sample beam. Under the conditions assumed, there is less absorption of radiation by the standard than bythe sample, so that the intensity ofthe reference beam is substantially greater than, that of the sample beam.

The graph 2'(b) illustrates the mode of operation of the coding shutterv 39, which alternately passes and yinter ruptsthe beam` traveling `from mirror4 27 tov mirror 28. The 'coding'shutter operates -at the same fundamental -frequency as the switching shutter, but with a phase difference @fof The effect on the radiation of the combined actions ofthe two shutters is'illustrated in the graph 2(c),l which indicates vthe variations in intensity ofx the wanted second pass radiation falling upon the detector. Theradi'ation contains components of fundamental frequencies "f andZf and the detector output contains simlarcomponents.- VThe detector output is supplied to demodulator 34-whichmay be a fullwave synchronous'rectierbridge AnappropriateY signal impressed uponterminal 34a cause'sfthe'- demodulator to be operatedat'a frequency 2f andin-pha'se with-thel switching' shutter as shownin graph-Md) and the idernodulatorout-put is the signal shown in vgra'pi'r-Z-('), which hasl a `componentproportional to the'ditferenc'e between I and I0. Y

With the demodulator; operating as described', fthe'rs't passradiation impinging upon the detector producsan output', which` enters the demodulator but does notresu'lt in any D.C. component in the signal outputofl the'demodulatonso that only second pass radiation is measured. Also, since the demodulatorf34 operates ata-f`r`equency 2f, stray-radiation from the coding shutterl operating 'at'a frequencyy fand radiatingn atthat frequency is discriminated against by the demodulator" and thus doesirioty create a' measurement error. n

In the system shown lin Fig. 3,v the detector output after amplification is fed both to they demodulator' 34' and to a similar demodulator V34a which operates-at afrequency f, in phaserwithl the coding shutter andl 90 out of'phase with the'switching shutter, as shown'in th'egraph 2(1). The output of the second demodulator meansta is a signal-shown in graph 2(g) Aand having a D.C. cotriponent which is a' function of the sum of I'and'lo. First pass'radiation isnot demodulated by this `second demodulator, because the first pass radiation is'90" out of phase with theV demodulator 34a. TheV new signal maybeemployed for various purposes.

Ina null type of instrument, it is assumed that where I :sample beam intensity I0=reference beam intensity .a=the physical position of reference beam attenuator a1+1=21 (2') With the. value of I thus determined from the output of the second demodulator and the value of a measured from the attenuator position, the value of I5 can be computed by substituting. the values for I anda in Formula 2. This value, when converted toa voltage V10, can then be used to enhance the signal, level or to control the energy in the reference beam tomaintain that energy ata constant level by regulating'slitwidth or source temperature or by other devices. Hence, by

using the two synchronous demodulating systems in combination as described, a double beam, double pass spectrophotometer with automatic regulation of servoloop gain may be provided, for example.

In some electro-optical systems, in which a switching shutter is employed, it is impoltant to provide good imagery of the shutter throughout the optical system and also to measure radiation from the source only, while other radiation is ignored. The desired result can be achieved by the use of the invention and an example of its use for the specified purpose is illustrated by the system shown in Fig. 4. Y

The Fig. 4 system is an infrared analyzer having a path between the source and the monochromator, which may be of substantial length. If the switching shutter in such a system were placed close to the source, it would be difficult to obtain good optical imagery of the shutter after the beam had traversed so long a path. At the same time, if the shutter were placed just before the entrance slit of the monochromator, undesirable radiation might be passed by the shutter and enter the entrance slit. The diiculties are overcome in the system shown in the following manner.

The system includes a source S, which is placed close to a slit 4t), and a coding shutter 39', which is similiar to shutter 39 and lies close to the slit, so that there is little chance that any radiation, except that from the source, will reach the shutter. The slit 40 may be mounted at the end of one leg of a tubular cell 4I of U-shape which has an opening in its wall, through which shutter 39 extends. Beyond the shutter, the cell is closed by a window 42 transparent to infrared radiation and the beam traveling outward past the shutter falls successively upon diagonal mirrors 43, 44, and returns through the other leg of the cell to escape th-rough a window 45. The cell has an inlet 46 and an outlet 47 for the gaseous sample. In some applications of the instrument as, for example, to determine the amount of a component present in the atmosphere, the cell 41 with its windows 4Z, 45 may be dispensed with and the source, slit 40, and mirrors 43, 44 may be placed in the open.

The radiation issuing through window 45 is interrupted by a switching shutter 20 and the radiation is then focused by an optical element 48 upon the entrance slit 49 of a monochromator. The radiation entering the slit travels to a collimating and focusing element 5t) and the collimated radiation passes to a dispersing element 51 illustrated as a prism. The dispersed radiation issuing from the prism falls upon a Littrow mirror 52 formed of two parts 52a, 52b, which are mounted for relative angular adjustment about an axis normal to the plane of dispersion of the prism. The dispersed radiation falling upon the Littrow mirror is returned thereby to the prism for a second dispersion and is then focused by mirror 50 upon an exit slit 53, the beam being turned on its way from the mirror to the slit by a diagonal mirror 54. The radiation issuing through the slit 53 is turned by a mirror 55 and falls upon a detector, generally indicated at 56.

In the system of Fig. 4, the shutters 20 and 39 operate at the same frequency but 90 out of phase. The detector output is then amplified and supplied to a demodulator similar to demodulator 34a and operating at a frequency 2f and in the same manner as the demodulators described in connection with the instrument of Fig. l, to produce signals uncontaminated by unwanted radiation.

The analyzer illustrated in Fig. 4 is of the type shown in the patent to Atwood, 2,679,185, issued May 25, 1954, and one of the two parts 52a, 52b of the Littrow mirror serves as a deviating means, so that part of the dispersed radiation falling upon the mirror may be considered to be directed thereby along its normal path to the exit slit 53, while the remainder is deviated. The

deviated radiation Vdifers in wavelength from the undeviated radiation and, in order that the switching shutter 20 may cause the radiation of the two wavelengths to fall alternately upon the detector, the switching shutter must be placedat a definite location with reference to the deviating means 52a, 52b. This iocation of the switching shutter may be termed its effective position and that position is either close to the deviating means or at the location along the optical path of an image of the deviating means.

In both forms of the new system described, the radiation emanating from the coding shutter itself does not introduce zero errors, since the coding shutter operates at a frequency different from the frequency of synchronous demodulator 34. When a single synchronous demodulator is employed in either system, the phase relationships between the components are not highly critical, since inexact phase relationships do not introduce error but merely reduce the signal value.

We claim:

1. In a radiation comparison system, the combination of a radiation source, a detector producing a signal in response to radiation falling thereon, means defining a path for said radiation from said source to said detector, a switching shutter periodically acting on radiation at one point in the path to produce a pair of intermittent beams of radiation out of phase, a coding shutter periodically interrupting the radiation at another point in the path, the coding shutter operating at the same frequency as the switching shutter but out of phase therewith, the radiation falling upon the detector under the control of the shutters producing a detector output containing an A.C. component of twice the frequency of the shutters and proportional to the diiference in intensity of said two beams, and a demodulator receiving the detector output and operating at twice the shutter frequency and in such phase relation with the switching shutter as to produce a signal having a component proportional to the difference in intensity of said two beams, whereby to eliminate error due to any extraneous radiation between said source and said second point.

2. In a radiation comparison system, the combination of a radiation source, a detector producing a signal in response to radiation falling thereon, means dening a path for said radiation from said source to said detector, a switching shutter periodically acting on radiation at one point in the path to produce a pair of intermittent beams of radiation out of phase, a coding shutter periodically interrupting the radiation at a another point in its path, the coding shutter operating at the sarne frequency as the switching shutter but 90 out of phase therewith, the radiation falling upon the detector under the control of the shutters producing a detector output containing an A.C. component of twice the frequency of the shutters and proportional to the difference in intensity of said two beams, and a demodulator receiving the detector output and operating at the shutter frequency and in such phase relation with the coding shutter as to produce a signal having a component proportional to the sum of the intensities of the two beams, whereby to eliminate error due to any extraneous radiation between said source and said second point.

3. In a radiation comparison system, the combination of a source of radiation, means for forming a pair of separate beams of radiation from the source, a switching shutter acting on the beams to interrupt them in alternation, a monochromator having dispersing means acting on the two beams and directing narrow wavelength bands thereof toward an exit slit, reflecting means within the monochromator intercepting dispersed radiation of a selected wavelength and returning it to the dispersing means for further dispersion before it falls upon the exit slit, a coding shutter periodically interrupting the intercepted radiation, the shutters operating at the same frequency but 90 out of phase, a detector receiving radiatigril issuing throughV the exit slit, thefradiation-falling upon the detector under the controlofthe4 shuttersfproducinga dvetectoroutput containing an A1C. component of twice the frequency of ltheshuttersaridV proportional to the dif,- ference. inintensity of-said two beams, and aderno'dulator receiving. the detectorV output and operating at twice the shutter frequency and in such phasel relation with the switching. shutter asy to produceV asignal having a cornponentproportionalto the diierembe'V in intensity of theV two beams.l

4. Ina radiation comparison system, the combination offa source of radiation, means for forminga pair of separate beams of radiation from they source, a, switching shutter acting` on thebeams tointerrup't'the'rnV in, alternation, a monochromato'r havingdispe'rsingmeans acting ony the two beams and` directing vnarrow wavelength bands thereof toward an exit slit, reflecting'means within the monn'ochromator intercepting dispersed radiation' o'f a selectedV wavelength and returning it to the dispersing means for further dispersion before itfalls upon the'exit slit,a coding shutter periodically interrupting the intercepted radiation, the shuttersoperating at the' same frequency but 90 out of phase,` aidetector receiving radiation` issuing through the exitV slit, the radiation falling upon the detector under the control,l of the shuttersy pro-v ducing a detector output( containing an ALC. component oftwice the frequency of the shuttersand proportional tothel difference in intensity of said, two beams, and a demodulator receiving the' detectoroutput and operating atthe shutter frequency and in such phase relation with the coding shutter as to produce asignal` having a' component proportional to the sum ofthe intensities' of 'the two beams.

5. In a radiation comparison. system, the combination of a source of radiation, Vmeans `for forming a pair o i. separ'atebeams'of'radiation frn'the'sorce, a sfwitchingf shutter lacting oril the b'earnst. in efrrupt themfalterna.- tion, a monochromator;haviiigfdispersing means acti'go'n.' theV two beams andfdirectingfriarrow wavele'rigth'"bandsl thereof toward an exit slit, reliecting means" within the monochromator intercepting dispersed radiation of af selected wavelength'and returning it to the dispers'ing means for' further dispersion'before it falls upon'the exit' slit, acodingl shutter periodically'interrupting'` the intercepted radiation, the shuttersi operating at the" same fre quency but out o'f phase, a detector-receiving radia tion issuing through the exit slit, the"racliation falling upon the detector under fthe control ofthe'shutte'rs pro-` ducing' a detector outp'ticontaining an'A.C. component` of twice the: frequency of' the shutters arid` proportional to the difference in intensity of' said'two beams', a' d enjodl ulator receiving the detector'output and operating at twice' the shutter frequencyand in 'such phase' relation'withztlie switching shutter as to produce asigalhaving a corn-l ponent proportionalto the diieren'ce in intensity' o'f the twobeams', andasec'ond d ernodulator alsor'eceivingthe detector output, the second demodulatoroperatin'giat the' shutter frequency and in such phase relation withthe coding shutter as to produce a signal havingv a"'component proportional -to` the' sum of the intensities of the two beams.

References Citedr in; theiflleof thispa'tet UNITED: STATES 'PATENTS 2,631,489" Golay a Marsi?, 1953 2,680,989 Savitzky June 15,1954 2,750,834 Golay June 19,1956' 

